Pubdate: Sat, 30 Mar 2002
Source: Nation, The (Thailand)
Copyright: 2002 Nation Multimedia Group
Contact: 66-2-317-2071
Website: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1963

FIRM HAND NEEDED WITH THE BURMESE

The continuing cross-border shelling between the Wa drug army and Thai 
troops along the northern border is a slap in the face for the Thai 
government, which has often claimed that bilateral relations with Burma are 
fine and dandy and back on track. For the past week, Thai troops along the 
northern border have been slugging it out with soldiers belonging to the 
United Wa State Army (UWSA), a pro-Rangoon outfit dubbed the world's 
largest armed drug trafficking group.

The UWSA is responsible for a very significant amount of the world's heroin 
supply, as well as the millions of methamphetamines that flood Thailand 
each month. And once again - and this is probably not the last time - 
villagers along the northern border who, more than anyone do not deserve to 
be misled by their leaders in Bangkok, are exposed to violence.

HM the Queen even had to cancel a planned visit to a Royal project in a 
remote village in Chiang Mai province for safety reasons. And, since this 
latest round of cross-border shelling, the authorities have shut down a 
border crossing.

For the past nine months since Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 
fence-mending visit to Rangoon in June, the government has been telling the 
people that the two sides have achieved a level of understanding that can 
nurture further cooperation, be it in narcotics suppression and other joint 
mechanisms or infrastructure development and investment.

Thailand even proposed a Bt20 million crop-substitution project in a 
Wa-controlled area. It was a goodwill gesture from Bangkok to Rangoon that 
a tripartite arrangement - involving Thailand, Burma and the UWSA - could 
work towards a fruitful result in spite of the acknowledgement by Thai and 
foreign narcotic officers of the significant illicit gains made by the Wa 
army from methamphetamines.

Like it or not, the Wa and their illicit drugs have effectively become a 
bargaining chip in Thai-Burmese deals. So far there has been no indication 
from Rangoon that they would like to see the Wa taken out of the equation. 
The fundamental problems - drugs, insurgencies, refugees, illegal migration 
and mutual suspicion - continue to shape bilateral ties.

Indeed, the ongoing clashes are a testimony that normalcy is still nowhere 
in sight as far as ties are concerned. The government has to stop 
misleading the people and accept the relationship for what it is. However, 
this does not mean that our leaders should sit idly by and do nothing.

For one thing, we need to hold Rangoon accountable for the Wa's illicit 
activities. We cannot let the Burmese junta get away with a mere diplomatic 
protest. For too long Rangoon has been playing the UWSA card in its 
dealings with Thailand. It's time to put a stop to this.

Rangoon is quick to cry foul, accusing Thailand of being offside when 
clashes between the UWSA and Thai troops break out. Their favourite word is 
"sovereignty". But the junta does not seem to understand that with 
"sovereignty" comes responsibility. Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, 
during his upcoming visit to Mandalay, must tell Rangoon it is accountable 
for the Wa's illicit activities. In short, the generals can't have their 
cake and eat it too.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom